this is providing the energy that i need to continue my life." barbara korsch: everett koop has made statements that 90% of the errors in medical diagnosis are due to poor communication. there's a famous study by a fellow researcher in the area, dr. beckman, who did one study of a hundred visits in an internist's office and found on the average that the doctor interrupted the patient after 18 seconds. the patient's story... often adds things that, if you were just getting the task and the measurements, you wouldn't get-- which are crucial even from a biologic point-of-view, if not from a psychologic-- for the patient. if they haven't had a chance to tell the story, they feel they haven't been understood. most doctors are looking for a patient who they can get in and get out in a short period of time, and give good quality care to. what doctors will respond positively to, however, is the patient who takes initiative, the patient who says, "you know, since our last visit, i've got some questions on my mind i'd like to go over with you." for example